Aravynandrea's Blog

Get the tissues ready.

A friend actually sent me these videos and I know I cried my eyes out.

Here is the short version...

Here is the full story

I know people are tired about hearing about Favre. But I want to bring it up because People are getting confused by this situation with Brett, the Packers, Rodgers, Thompson and so forth, and what its really about.

They keep saying "Give Rodgers a chance." Like those supporting Brett are simply angry at the fact Favre is gone and wish Rodgers an unsuccessful career. Like those defending Brett are simply Favre fans and NOT Packer fans, and they can't understand why people wish for the Packers to have a losing season.

It has nothing to really do with Aaron Rodgers.

It has nothing to do with the Packer's team.

It has to do with how unfairly the Organization treated the 3x MVP who helped get them where they are.

Favre retired because not only is it painfully obvious he was unfairly treated by Thompson for years, but the coach handpicked Rogers, and has been pushing for years to have him replace Favre as leader.

Favre flip flopped for so many years with retirement because, I'm sure he struggled with the thought of "Do I really want to come back to an organization whose GM gives me crap and whose coach can't wait to replace me?"

If you don't think Thompson played ANY part in Brett leaving... why would Thompson try to bribe brett with $20mil to stay home instead of letting him come back and trading him right off the bat, or releasing him to be done with the aggrivation, or benching him for the 10mil he's payed as a player?

A man willing to bribe someone for 10 MILLION dollars MORE than what it would cost to let him come back and bench him, is someone who really doesn't like that person.

After retiring, Favre chose to not give into Thompson and unretired. Thompson continued to be a bleep to Favre by saying "You have a place in this organization, but its not a playing position, or a coaching position, or an assistant position, we won't release you and we don't want to trade you to a good team." And he KEPT on doing that, so that it dragged on and on.

He could have said come back and traded him right away, he could have said, we'll release you, or offered him a viable position with the team that didn't involve playing.

Instead he put Brett between a rock and a hard place, then tried to paint Brett as a villian who wanted to steal the position away from Rodgers.

Then fans turned on Favre like the hold up was his fault. What was Favre suppose to do? Tuck his tail between his legs and stay retired? Give in to Thompson whose mistreated him for so long? Favre retired, he changed his mind and wanted to come back. Big freakin deal. 

Thompson didn't have to bump Rodgers for Favre. No one really expected that, deep down I don't think Favre did either. All Thompson had to do was release Brett, or let him come back, and trade him like he ended up doing.

It would have been over and done with. he didn't have to drag it on and on and on. He didn't have to basically say Favre could stay on with the team as the waterboy. (He didn't use those words, but lets face it, when you say no to playing, coaching, and being an assistant coach... what else is there but waterboy?)

So this isn't about Rodgers, and giving Rogers a chance, and yada yada. Its not about supporting "the new Packers Team", or about letting Brett go gracefully.

Its about fairness, and the Packer's organization was NOT fair to Favre, as they weren't to Holmgren, as they weren't to other Packers.

It's about standing up for what is right

and the treatment Brett Got from the organization and (some) fans, wasn't right!!

I can't cheer for the Packers while Thompson still works for them, and while they have a president/CEO too scared to stand up to his EMPLOYEE to make him do what's right.

If it can happen to Favre, it can happen to Rodgers, it can happen to any member of the team.

How can I be expected to cheer for injustice that rained down on greats like Holmgren and Brett, and that can pour on any of the other players at any time?

It's not about NOT supporting the Packers, its about sending a message to Thompson. Supporting Brett is basically telling Thompson unfairness won't be tollerated, treating players like crap is inexcusable.

In the long run, isn't that actually helpful to the Packers players, including Rodgers? Like I said, if Brett could be treated like that, so could they at anytime. Sending the message to Thompson that it won't be tollerated will protect the other players in the long run.

Until Thompson leaves, it's GO JETS GO!

At least for me.

^_^

Obama is the candidate of change...

then why can't he come up with his own ideas.

Watch this video... seem familiar?

I bet the same people who bashed McCain for the EXACT SAME THING, will praise Obama for this. "Oh but its different", "Oh but its true", "At least he isn't comparing McCain to Britney."

again, going to the Moses commercial McCain endorsed... Obama can STEAL someone's idea... basically plagerize it... and his followers will still look at him like he walks on water.

Pump your tires and save the world Billions. No need for off shore drilling.

I will bring troops home in my first three months as president.

I never said I'd bring toops home, I don't believe in generic timetables

I will bring troops home in 16 months if I'm elected.

THAT sounds like the same old politics to me.

Like I said, I have many issues with McCain... however...

No candidate is a good candidate cause no matter whose in office, nothing changes but their recollection on their promises.

You'd be naive to think Obama is any different from any other politician.

BTW... Didn't Obama's wife appear on The View?

and hasn't he appeared on US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, The SUN, New York Times, TIME magazine

The news can't stop talking about him, (Positively), people cry when he enters a room like he's elvis...

he's inexperienced, yet people think he can lead... Sounds like a paris who is famous for being famous.

for the last week, I was up north on vacation with my mom, helping her get my late grandma's house ready to sell.

No internet access, and only the most basic of basic cable. (The staple stations like Fox, CBS, NBC, ABC, CW, TNT, so on.)

At night, the only thing besides infomercials were back to back episodes of The Bernie Mac show on the CW network.

I never saw that show before, but since it was the only thing on, I decided to watch.

After the first episode I found myself cracking up and looking forward to the episode that followed, and the ones that followed the next day.

I watched about 12 episodes of the show, and I was already a major fan. I think my favorite episode that I saw was when Bernie was teaching his nephew to be nice to the school nerd by befriending his dad.

On saturday as I was starting to pack my things to go home, my mother was flipping stations and I heard "Gone, at 50." So I innocently asked...

"Who died?"

My mom said

"Some comedian."

"Who?"

"I think they said Bernie Mac or something."

My jaw dropped. All I could say was, "Bernie Mac? Oh my God! Really? That's horrible!!"

"have you heard of him?"

"Actually I just heard of him this week. The Bernie Mac show is that comedy I've been watching since we got up here! You usually had already gone to bed. I could tell He was a great comedian. his show is hilarious and creative. I don't think I've laughed so hard. I've only been aquainted with his comedy for a week, but It only took a week to know he'll be deeply missed by his fans, which now includes me. I wish I wasn't so late in finding his show."

Goodbye Bernie Mac. You were too young to go. You will be missed greatly.

Thank you for keeping me sane for a whole week while I was vacationing in the middle of nowhere.

You gained a new fan in me. I only wish it had been sooner.

I can NOT vote for a man who thinks THIS is a good alternative to offshore drilling.

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/142113.html

I mean, WHAT? Inflate my tires and I can save our country billions of dollars ?

I can't follow Obama who says he'll finally get our troops home in his first 3 months as president, then says THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kFrFIFizkU

Then after saying he doesn't believe in generic time tables... he sets another one. This time he says he'll do it in 16 months.

Which is it?

the first 3 months of your presidency, No timeline, or 16 months?

Also, everyone has those people that they're embarrassed are supporters, but do you notice most of his supporters are hateful, racist people?

There is a convicted terrorist whose only regret is not bombing more buildings.
There is a man who hates whites and calls America the US of KKK
There is a man who hates whites and Jews
There is a man who hates just about everything, including Obama (though oddly he still supports him soley because Obama is "black")
There are "Peace loving", Can't we all just get along, liberals who threaten violence and talk about how much the HATE people who don't think the way they do.

This is a man we want to be president? A man followed by that much hate?

Obama in the beginning was criticizing how McCain handled his time as a POW. OOOOKKKKKK, McCain was serving his country... he was almost KILLED serving his country... When you've served our country and put your life on the line like McCain did and like our troops do everyday... THEN talk about what McCain did or didn't do while a PRISONER OF WAR.

And I love the Race card.

Dude is half black, half white. Yet he only seems to be black, which in itself is no big deal... but he has said McCain would run a racist campaign soley because he doesn't look like other presidents because the color of his skin.

So far, McCain hasn't really said anything except the truth.

Obama is inexperienced, Obama's energy plan is a joke, Obama wants to borrow from Paul to pay Peter at the detrement of US Citizens, and Obama is basically a Paris Hilton.

He hasn't done anything president worthy, Yet all the tabloid magazines can't stop talking about how wonderful he is, you can't turn around without the news blabbing about him, yet they never say what he plans to do. they just talk about how "Handsome" he is, how "beautiful" his wife is, their fashion and blah blah.

That's what they talk about Paris Hilton for! She is not known for anything, she's famous for doing nothing, and all they talk about is her fashion really.

So nothing McCain has said is exactly misleading, racist or wrong.

And how do you love this plan of Obama's?

he said he is going to take money from big oil to give back to us. You know what's going to happen then? Big Oil will raise gas prices to a point we can't afford it, and Obama will do nothing. Cause you know, all you have to do is inflate your tires and you'll be fine.

How about the fact he passed up on visiting injured troops in germany because cameras weren't allowed? Great guy, great guy.

So yeah. I'm not saying McCain is perfect by any means. I have plenty of issues with him, however, I'm not voting for Obama.

Now please stop trying to convert me. I am not going to be swayed on this issue

Thank you. ^_^

This is about Bicycles, not motorcycles.

Today I was heading to the bank. Its a narrow street that's usually busy, but the traffic moves because there are no stop signs or stop lights. Its usually a 5 minute ride, yet it was stop and go the whole time.

as I finally inched up the hill behind a line of cars, I realized... it was because they were trying to go around someone on a bike.

Not that this guy didn't have a bike lane... he just chose to ride in the middle of the street and refused to get into the far side of the bike lane so people could pass him.

People on bikes have been annoying me lately.

When I'm walking my dog near the lake on a walking path, someone on a bike will come flying from behind me almost hitting me and my dog.

Biking etiqutte says that on a shared path (Bike/walking) you should say "To your left" or "to the right" so a person knows you're coming. Because lets face it, with the noise of people, animals, wind and traffic, you're not going to hear someone on a bike until they're already on you.

Why should I have to look over my shoulder ever 10 seconds to make sure someone's not coming? If you're coming fast behind me, and you know I can't see you, but you can see me, it should be your duty to let me know to move aside so no one gets hurt. Otherwise, I'm going to have no sympathy if I accidentally step out in front of you and causes you to fall off. its not my fault. Just like if I chose to ignore you it wouldn't be your fault.

The worst thing is when they HAVE a WIDE bike lane on the street, and they either ride RIGHT ON the line or they don't use it all together and they decide to ride in the street making cars have to pass them, holding us all up.

That's even more annoying with gas the way it is today. Stop and go, stop and go, stop and go.

not to mention a few months ago when my dog snuck into the basement when the baby gate was left open and he smelled like he may have eaten something toxic. On my way to the vet, a freakin', in the middle of the street going 3 miles an hour on a 45 mile an hour highway, biker was holding me up. (Luckily my dog just stank, and his tummy was empty so he didn't ingest anything bad.)

But if the biker gets hit, its the driver's fault even though they're caught between a rock and a hard place because the bikers are not obeying the rules. They either have to swerve into on coming traffic, come to a complete stop, or keep going. Why should they be forced to cater to a biker who chooses to not use a bike lane or chooses a busy street instead of a bike path at a park or something.

I asked a friend about this and they said, "Well, don't they say people on bikes have equal rights?"

I say, if they follow Biking etiqutte, if they follow the rules about riding in the bicycle lane, and if they can travel 35+ miles an hour, obeying the minimum speed limit...

THEN they can have equal rights. Until then, get out of the flippin way!!

above all, you're not just being an annoyance, you're putting yourself, drivers trying to swerve around you, and other pedestrians at risk for injury because you think you can go 1 on 1 with a car. If you want to put yourself in danger, bungee jump off a short bridge. Don't include me or my family and friends in your plans.

Ok

Rant over. ^_^

I have nothing against people getting out and getting exercise. I bike myself to stay in shape. But I at least follow common courtesy.

I know I can't travel as fast as a car so I stay out of their way.

If I see someone in front of me, I slow down a tad and let them know I'm approaching so they can move aside. If they don't, then that's their problem if they get hit. lol. But I've never had that issue. Most people get out of the way.

And above all, I use the bike lane if I'm on a road, and I avoid roads that are narrow, busy and have don't have a defined lane for riding.

There are so many places to ride, why do bikers gravitate to busy, narrow roads? especially when I'm trying to get somewhere??

GAH!!

Ok... NOW my rant is over. ^_^

luv ya all anyway! (even the dufus on the bike from this morning should he read this.) ^_^

I don't know if anyone posted anything yet, but I want to extend my condolences to the Snow family.

Tony Snow was a very entertaining speaker, and I enjoyed the many times he filled in for Rush, or the many times he did interviews on air.

He was a strong man, with a strong opinion, but the willingness to listen to others, and there was a friendly air about him.

My deepest condolences to his family, friends and all who worked closely with him. He'll be missed by many!

I just wanted to extend my wishes to the family, friends and collegues of Tim Russert who passed away today. My heart goes out to him, especially his son, as father's day approaches.

I never agreed with him politically, but there was no denying he was a good man who put his family first.

My prayers to his family and friends.

I don't know what it is about this year... but Ticks are out in force. It even caught national news attention... only they didn't mention Wisconsin in their report.

For the most part, the main problem around here are the American Dog Ticks. My brother and his wife have been pulling them off themselves by the dozen doing nothing more than walking their dog. My dog had 2 ticks already this year, last year when I first adopted him, he didn't have a single one.

My brother and his wife are enjoying walking on paths through the woods. This is the first time in the 5 years they've known eachother (3 years of Marriage) that they've been attacked by ticks during this past-time. Last year they had one or two, this year they counted 10 in less than 2 days. They've even been picking them up in their yard.

I personally have NEVER seen a tick, EVER, other than in pictures, until this year, and I spend a lot of time in the northern woods where deer ticks are usually numerous. Again, my dog never got a tick on him last year, and this year, one of the 2 he's picked up came from going outside for 5 minutes to potty.

While American Dog ticks are generally not harmful and rarely bite humans, they have been known to bite on occassion, and (less than 1%) have been known to carry Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. RMSF is extremely rare in wisconsin, and again, less than 1% of American Dog ticks nationwide are actual carriers, but with the increased number of ticks this year, there's always more cause for caution. (On the up note... if treated properly, rocky mountain spotted fever won't last long, won't leave lasting effects, and once it's over, you are forever immune.)

For the most part, they're an annoying pest, that is generally more harmful to your pet if they get infested by these blood suckers, than anything else.

In other areas of the country, deer ticks are a cause for concern. National news has noted that there is an abundant amount of deer and dog ticks this year, more than usual, and lymes disease (caused by the deer tick) is on the rise.

Ways to protect yourself...

1. Keep your lawn mowed. Ticks like Shady areas and tall grass.

2. If walking in the woods, wear long pants tucked into your boots or socks, and wear light colored clothes as they are attracted to dark.

3. Liberally spray yourself with a bug spray that contains Deet. (Deep Woods Off contains 25% deet, while general "off" products contains only 10% to 15%.) The smell of deet detracts them, and if bitten, the deet will kill them before they can do much damage.

4. If you've been in an area that may be prime for ticks, take a hot shower and wash your hair at the end of the day to wash away any loose ticks.

5. If you do NOT have pets... think of getting your lawn treated if you find you have tick and musqueto problems.

---------

Ways to protect your pets...

1. Keep them groomed. Especially if you have dogs with long black fur. Keep them clipped down (this will also keep them cooler in this hot weather- But don't shave them right down. believe it or not, most dogs need a layer of hair to keep cool!)

2. Check them every time you bring them in from out doors to see if they have anything on them.

3. Get them flea and tick preventatives from your vet. Avoid store bought brands as these are generally ineffective. (They are shipped and/or stored improperly which can render them ineffective, and many name brands in the petstores are actually outsourced from places like China, and we know how safe that is.)

4. Also avoid online stores (like petmeds.com) for the same reasons above

Go to your vet and get the meds.

a. They get it direct from their suppliers so they know its been shipped and stored properly
b. If you get it from a vet, most companies will guarantee their product. they will NOT guarantee store or online bought medicine. This is NOT because they want you to buy from the vet, its because they know how the medicine is shipped, they know its not expired and they can guarantee that its not outsourced outside of the US if its from the vet.

5. In personal experience as a former Vet Technician and pet owner, avoid ProMeris. There have been numerous complaints about ProMeris from lethargy, to Diarrhea, to vomiting to ineffectiveness.

My dog had a tick feeding on him. I kept it in a plastic baggie and it lived for 4 to almost 5 days. ProMeris said it would take 3 days of feeding to die. So for one, 3 days is a long time to feed on your pet. For another, 5 days later it was still kicken.

After a file of complaints from owners, my vet clinic switched back to Frontline Plus. No severe reactions, and i found another tick on my dog. It could only have been there for 24 hours at the most because I'm diligant about checking him over... and when I found it, it was already dead. WTG Frontline Plus!

There are other alternatives as well that work better than ProMeris.

If you have cats, there are cat versions of the meds as well.

I recomment Frontline Plus personally...

but avoid products like ProMeris, and biospot as they have been proven by consumers to be ineffective and even harmful.

Compared to 3 pages of minor complaints about Frontline... I have over 20 for ProMeris, and 11 for Bio Spot.

And don't forget to get a heartworm treatment to protect your dog from heartworms, which can be transmitted by musqueto bites.

Arigatou all!

I saw that fox6 had a "mymusic blog" so I thought I'd take a moment to share my favorite music with my fellow bloggers.

Don't ask me about Mariah Carey or Britney Spears or either Simpson sister, cause I simply don't know. When I turn on the radio now-a-days, I can't differentiate between one artist or another.

It seems they all sound and look like each other now-a-days. If Britney cuts her hair, they all do. If Jessica Simpson dyes her hair dark, they all do. Even the music sounds like clones. I couldn't tell you who was singing what anymore.

Its like, in order to one up the competition, the BECOME just like the competition, with their own edge.

However, there is one style of music that hasn't disappointed me... some may find this weird... but I am in LOVE with J-Rock and J-Pop (The J stands for Japanese.)

I've always loved the Japanese culture and history, and I'm actually headed to Japan next year for a 2 week vacation (my first time out of the country! yay!) So it only stands to reason that I would enjoy music from Japan.

What's great about it, is all of the artists compete with each other by standing on their own individuality and letting the music and the lyrics speak for themselves. and even better, there is a fire in the music that has been missing in American pop and rock these days. (At least in my opinion.)

Gackt is my favorite artist. What is cool about him, is that you don't even need to understand Japanese to get what he's trying to convey with his songs.

Other great J artists are X-Japan, Dir En Grey, Alice NINE, Glay, L'arc~en~ciel, do as infitinty, UTADA, TM Revolution and another favorite of mine, Orange Range.

If you're interested in catching what J-rock is all about, check out my station or my station's blog. (yes I'm a dj for an independent Japanese music station. ^_^)

And tell me what music you enjoy outside of Britney, Whitney and Christine...

Well its Christina... but Christine rhymes a little better. Lol.

Don't forget to sign this petition -

Its for tougher laws for drunk drivers.

I signed this one as soon as I heard about it thanks to fox 6.

My brother was hit by a 3rd offense drunk driver. his new car - not even a month old - was totalled and he was injured. One injury may lead to surgeries.

We were lucky my brother wasn't killed. based on the mangled nature of his car he very well could have been,

but every day, other innocent people are killed by drunk drivers. Grandmothers, Grandfathers, mothers, fathers, innocent children...

What makes me mad is this guy had a valid drivers after TWO Drunk driving violations. I have to ask my brother if the license was revoked after this time.

Another thing that gets me is the guy was wooping and laughing about it and joking around with the police officer who witnessed the accident and arrested him.

The only thing that shut him up was when the cop said "You realized you injured a county deputy sheriff, and by the way... this is his county."

Suddenly the guy was more concerned of having a change of jurisdiction.

We are taxed up the wazoo in Wisconsin. Taxed to the point that its unlivable. We're losing business left and right, and private citizens are also leaving. (I, myself will be one of them when I move to Michigan where taxes are bearable.)

You think the least they could do is toughen up laws on crimes.

No strict laws on Drunk driving or drugs, we're one of the few states left who don't have laws against puppy mills and stricter laws against animal cruelty.

We need a change!!!

I accidentally deleted my post on the wolves. (Woops) so I thought I'd start from scratch.

The short version...

There was a wolf in my front yard, eating out of my garbage.

Not a stray dog, not a Coyote, not a domestic dog of some type...

A wolf, exactly like the wolves you see up in the Northern Woods. I believe he was a Grey Wolf (Also known as the Timber Wolf) which are common in Michigan as well as Northern Wisconsin.

Shortly after that, I've been asking around and people from New Berlin, Big Bend and Especially Muskego, have all spotted wolves. Generally walking as a pair.

My brother who is a Sergeant at a local police station said he was getting calls at least 4 times a week to every other week.

In the past few days he has been getting at minimum, 5 to 7 calls a night with sightings.

The most recent calls were Yesterday - Wolves seen playing in Idle Isle of Muskego (A beach I think?) There is also now photographic evidence that the police have of these wolves... for anyone who has been told they couldn't have seen what they saw (As many people were telling me. "Oh it was a Coyote. There are no wolves here.")

I'll scan them if my brother remembers to bring them home.

So just be aware that they are out there.

No reports of attacks on people, pets or livestock, depsite the many opportunities they have. So that's a positive sign.

But please remember these are wild animals, and can be vicious if they feel threatened.

My hope is the DNR would trap them and return them to the Northern Woods or a sanctuary where shelter is plentiful, as is food and other wolves, as far from populated residential areas as possible, where they have a possibility of harming someone or something, or being harmed themselves. (There is a report of a dead wolf sighting... apparently hit by a car on the freeway.)

In the Northern woods, there is so much forest... Big Foot could live in there forever without being caught. (And probably does.) So I'd like to see them head back up there.

On a side note... my yard has turned into Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

First the wolf..... Then 3 wild turkey..... Today 2 deer..... and of course the cardinal bird nest with several eggs, very jealously guarded by a mean momma. Lol.

anyway. Be on the look out. Call the police if you see the wolves... do not approach them, feed them, or shoot them. (Especially the last one... they are still a protected species).

but help us keep tabs on them. Post your sightings here!!

People are up in arms about the proposal (that seemingly is a done deal) for a new mega walmart.

I'm curious as to why.

In Muskego, the closest Walmart is New Berlin or Mukwanago.

It costs gas to drive all the way to those stores... and with the traffic on Mooreland, especially after the addition of that stupid and unnecessary turnabout, and the construction of another.

With Gas prices reaching $3.85 and higher today... wouldn't a Walmart in Muskego be more convienent?

I also saw a woman tell the news.. "I don't want that in my back yard."

Yeah, ok but... its not in your back yard.

Its in the Back yard of Kohl's department store, and across the street from what will be a new GE plant... and kittycorner from the Gingerbread house.

I admit, I grocery shop at Walmart. When I spend $50 there... I get

Frozen Pizza
Bread
banana split flavored Icecream sandwitches (YUM YUM YUM)
Cheese
Ceral
Boneless/skinless chicken breast
2 cases of Soda
Water
Milk
Fat free pudding
Chips
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
Home made pizza mix (I love pizza. lol)
Soup
peanut Butter
Jelly (strawberry. Even tho I'm allergic I love it.)

When my mom spends $50 at Pick N Save (which I heard they recently renovated) she's lucky if she gets bread, milk, soda, chips, a newspaper and toilet paper. I hear Muskego Sentry is just as expensive.

So you save on gas, and you get more bang for your buck grocery wise... especially with the price of groceries going up because of the "oil shortage." Or whatever they're accusing it on this week.

The only main concern is congestion from Traffic... but that was a concern when the Kohls went in. Didn't see much extra traffic from that.

And come on. Muskego has a walgreens, then they built another one barely 2 miles away, and I hear they're building another one on Woods. Muskego needs 3 walgreens... but Walmart is a big no no?

So I'm curious as to why residents do not want this?

I'm not saying anything against those who don't... I'm just curious as to why.